Does This Bus Have Butt-Sag?

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vwlover77
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Does This Bus Have Butt-Sag?

Post by vwlover77 » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:49 pm

Here are photos taken of my unladen Westy at the flattest place I could think of, the gas station. Do you think it has too much butt-sag?

Using a level, I was able to verify that the driver's side rear does sit lower than the passenger side, which I've always suspected.

I wanted to take my daughters along to have about 200+ lbs. loading up the front seats, but they were running around in a tizzy getting ready for the first day of school tomorrow and wouldn't come along.

Your thoughts please!

Image
Image
Don

---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick

"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen

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karl
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Post by karl » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:58 pm

Looks normal. Compare your rear wheel gap to the factory picture here:
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/csmanual.htm

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Amskeptic
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Re: Does This Bus Have Butt-Sag?

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:07 pm

vwlover77 wrote:Do you think it has too much butt-sag?
Just a little. Almost at the "new bushings will cure it" stage, but if we put in new bushings, measuring/adjusting the spring plate angle is right there too.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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hambone
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Post by hambone » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:14 am

Yeah it's a tad saggy, shouldn't the bottom body line be parallel to the ground?
Sure is a beautiful bus! I wouldn't be able to drive it down brushy roads due to 1000 potential heart attacks.
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vwlover77
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Post by vwlover77 » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:36 am

hambone wrote:Yeah it's a tad saggy, shouldn't the bottom body line be parallel to the ground?
I've been told that a slight nose-high attitude with no weight in the front seats is normal. I've also read that the KYB gas-adjust shocks on my Bus may push up the front end slightly. (I'm not sure I believe that though.)
hambone wrote:Sure is a beautiful bus! I wouldn't be able to drive it down brushy roads due to 1000 potential heart attacks.
It's actually a Maaco paint-job! The photos hide many flaws, believe me. But, it does have a pretty nice shine overall, and is holding up well. I do try to pamper it, though!
Don

---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick

"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen

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bretski
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Post by bretski » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:50 am

The sag, if any, is veeeeeeery slight. Nothing that I'd worry about.
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"

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zblair
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Post by zblair » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:56 am

bretski wrote:The sag, if any, is veeeeeeery slight. Nothing that I'd worry about.
What Bret posted :flower:

Gotta say it was funny to me to see a man posting the equivalent of "does my butt look fat" - a LOL moment for today - my first! :joker:

Ya know, I think part of the perception of the back looking lower may be because the difference in shape between the wheel wells around the tires. Look at Colin's drawing of the yellow bay under forums. Doesn't it look like the back is slightly lower? Maybe if the vehicles were on a level surface instead of "floating" then they'd look a bit different, adding to the optical illusion even more...
1974 T1 Super Beetle "Fweem"
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hambone
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Post by hambone » Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:07 am

The Beetle has the same sort of "sag" dynamics..and the same big gap above the front wheels. Interesting anyway.
I have a Maaco paint job too. It's starting to show its age but what the heck, good enuff for me.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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